Introduction
Importing German machinery to USA requires EPA compliance (engines), CARB approval (California), FDA registration (food/pharma), and proper HS codes. Average duty: 0-4.4% for most industrial equipment.
Required Documentation
Commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, EPA Form 3520-1 (engines), FDA Form 2877 (food/pharma), certificate of origin, ISF filing (10+2 rule).
Customs Duties by Category
CNC machines: 0-4.4%. Hydraulic presses: 0-3.5%. Pumps/valves: 0-2.6%. Food processing: 0-5.5%. Medical devices: 0-6.5%. Check HTS codes before shipping.
EPA & CARB Compliance
Diesel engines: EPA Tier 4 Final required. California: CARB certification mandatory. Non-compliant engines: $25,000-50,000 fines + seizure. Pre-1996 engines: exempt but restricted.
FDA Requirements
Food contact machinery: FDA 21 CFR compliance. Pharma equipment: cGMP validation. Medical devices: FDA 510(k) or PMA. Registration: $6,000-15,000 per facility.
Shipping Costs (2026)
40ft container HamburgNYC: $4,500-7,500. 40ft container HamburgLA: $5,500-9,000. Insurance: 0.3-0.8% of value. Customs broker: $200-500 per entry.
Timeline
Ocean freight: 14-21 days. Customs clearance: 1-5 days. EPA review: 2-4 weeks. FDA review: 2-8 weeks. Total: 4-12 weeks door-to-door.
Recommended Customs Brokers
1. Livingston International (NYC, LA, Chicago). 2. C.H. Robinson (nationwide). 3. Kuehne+Nagel (German-US specialist). 4. DB Schenker (German-owned, US operations).